I Feel Pretty

She bought a character-branded sleeping bag, which she then unzipped to cover the bed, and then she painted the room a shade of pink so tasteful that it was essentially white. I was thrilled with my bed, and first-grader heartbroken over the walls.

A few decades later, when my ex moved out, one of my first thoughts was, “Screw it. I’m painting the bedroom pink.” I wrote on Mighty Girl that my bedroom has been saying two things about me in the time since:

1. I haven’t been spending much time on myself.

2. I used to live here with someone else.

That first one explains why I haven’t thrown myself into redecorating my private space. The second one? It’s been nearly two years since “our apartment” became “my apartment,” but it still looks mostly the same. And if you’ve ever been through a breakup or divorce, you know that living in an echo is pretty sexy. No wait. Depressing? I mean depressing. I get those confused.

But today Olay is giving me a kick in the bum, and some much-needed help reclaiming my bedroom. They’ve hired my friend Victoria Smith from SF Girl by Bay to help me choose paint swatches, and light fixtures, and organizational whatsits.

We’re revamping my room as a gift to myself for Valentine’s Day, which is apropos, because the walls are going to be pink enough to make Cupid question my taste levels.

What do you think about the idea of your house as a metaphor for where you are? And what’s your house saying about you?

I love this idea of making your home a representation of who lives there. I have a hard time investing time and money on things like this that I deem wants, not needs, but this is a good reminder of the importance of making your living space your own. Can’t wait to see the results!

This is going to be great, I am sure. You deserve to have your space exactly the way you want it (especially if for the moment it belongs solely to you). I had a great deal of satisfaction in pitching all the orange and olive green furnishings that my ex brought into the house – now it is all black and white and me all over. Can’t wait to see the end results!

I chose very pink paint for my bedroom walls when I was 3 – they stayed that way until I was 34 and my parents sold the house. There was also a Miss Piggy bedspread and sheet set that was the envy of the neighborhood – initially. When I was about 13 I had to throw a very mature temper tantrum to get some solid color sheets.
I think that the idea that outer-space reflects your inner-state is true – to an extent. We outgrow our decor, taste and fashions change, but more than anything, we change.
Enjoy your pink walls – I used to think of my room as the inside of a rosebud.

A few months after my ex-fiancee moved out, I painted the bedroom and got all new linens, it made the room all mine again and I was finally able to get a good nights sleep after too many restless nights! It feels so good to reclaim your space.

I’m excited for you! It’s amazing the difference colour can make. I had wanted a dark purple wall in my house for the longest time – I finally got up the nerve and painted a wall blackberry wine (such a delicious colour!) a few months ago. It still makes me smile every time I see it!
Now I’m looking at my bedroom and thinking it needs a new colour and some changes made to it… You’ve inspired me to make it happen!
I can’t wait to see how your room comes together!!

We moved when I was 3 or 4 years old. Along with having the foresight to claim the bedroom next to the bathroom (just like our old house) which ended up being the largest bedroom with four enormous windows; I also insisted on painting my bedroom pink. Ballet Pink on the walls and Candy Pink on the extensive woodwork. It changed as I grew, and though I sometimes mourn for space as a single gal to throw glitter all over, I have a tolerant partner who will (probably) let me do whatever I want in my office when we someday own a house.

In a nutshell: ROCK ON. (and throw some animal print in that room, too!)

I do believe our home is a metaphor for our lives. Mine is light and full of nooks and snuggle spots, but a tad disorganized. We have tons of books, art, and many other things that make us all happy. Dog bed by the electronic fire? Check. Three blankets to choose from to nap with? Check. Easily accessible art supplies? Check. The home really is where the heart is and should be treated as such.

I’m not sure what my house is saying about me. I, too, have a me-only bedroom, but you could say I went the opposite of pink–black & white walls, bold stripes (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v39/splendade/35ec1886.jpg)–but it makes me happy every time I go in there, and I think that’s invaluable.

Also, huge fan of Victoria’s! So excited about this wonderful collaboration between two women I respect and admire so much!

Have any of us NOT had a pink bedroom at one time in our lives? My last one was in college when I unfortunately chose a pepto-bismol color that has haunted me since.

But I currently live in a bedroom that’s only 1/4 decorated, if that. My husband doesn’t want to invest in anything decorative, since we might rent the place so we can move closer to Los Angeles. But that’s been an issue for more than a year. I’m tired of the badly sewn, homemade curtains that hang askew.

I have exactly the same story about tasteful-pink-but-really-white walls. I felt so cheated.
My bedroom is the most neglected room at our apartment, and I HATE that. I’ve been planning to make it pretty since we moved here but had plenty of excuses (money, faulty walls that will ruin the wallpaper I want, the works) but now I don’t care: it’s going to the top of the priority list.